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More information regarding the Active Support research and training services offered by CDS will be published online shortly. In the meantime, you can download our Active Support Train-the-Trainer brochure at the bottom of this page, or access publications and presentations regarding Active Support here. If you are interested in Active Support, please contact us.
What is Active Support?
People with learning disabilities are entitled to lives, which are as full as anyone else’s. Although every one of us differs, there are some core things that we all have in common. It is important for most people to:
- be part of a community
- have good relationships with friends and family
- have relationships that last
- have opportunities to develop experience and learn new skills
- have choices and control over life
- be afforded status and respect ... and ...
- be treated as an individual.
So important are these core elements of life that they have come to define what we mean by leading a socially valued lifestyle. When a person is not able enough to do typical activities independently, he or she will need support to do them.
Active Support is designed to make sure that people who need support have the chance to be fully involved in their lives and receive the right range and level of support to be successful.
(Jones, E., Perry, J., Lowe, K., Allen, D., Toogood, S., & Felce, D. (2010). Active Support: A handbook for supporting people with learning disabilities to lead full lives. In ARC Cymru (Ed.), Active Support (Vol. 1, pp. 58). Cardiff: ARC Cymru.)
The Basic issue is about how support is provided. Staff can do things for residents or staff can do those same activities with residents and support them to participate.
Active Support teaches direct support professionals how to provide effective support that has been proven to improve participation, choice and quality of life.
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